The Michigan Ovarian Cancer Alliance (MIOCA) is extremely proud to highlight and share about the invaluable efforts of MIOCA’s Geri Fournier Ovarian Cancer Research Grant recipients, Dr. Larry Matherly and Dr. Zhanjun Hou of Wayne State University. MIOCA’s grants are intended to fund innovative ovarian cancer research happening in the state of Michigan focused on earlier detection, improvements in ovarian cancer treatment, or both.
With support from this grant, their team has made promising progress with their research. Below, they share an update on their work:
Ovarian cancer can be challenging to treat as current cancer drugs do not just impact cancer cells—they also affect healthy cells, which can cause serious side effects. Doctors often use combinations of different drugs to treat this cancer, but this approach isn’t perfect. Timing the effects of each drug is difficult, and treatment does not always work as well as it should. Researchers have found that many cancer cells, including those in ovarian cancer, change the way they process nutrients in order to grow. One such process, called “one-carbon metabolism,” is especially important for ovarian cancer cells. With partial support from MIOCA in 2020, our team has discovered a new type of treatment that specifically targets this weakness in ovarian cancer cells. These new treatments—called tumor-targeted therapeutics (TCTs)—attack multiple parts of the cancer cell's metabolism at once.
Here’s why our approach is promising:
1. New and unique – These drugs work differently from any cancer drugs currently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.
2. Fighting resistance – By targeting several areas related to one-carbon metabolism at once, our drugs may be better at preventing cancer cells from becoming resistant to therapy.
3. Cancer-specific action – The drugs are designed to take advantage of unique traits found only in ovarian cancer cells, which means they’re more likely to spare healthy cells from the toxic side-effects of therapy.
4. Works well with existing treatments – When combined with current chemotherapy, these new drugs may help make the treatment more effective.
5. Boosting the immune system – The drugs also help the body’s immune system fight the cancer, a major advance likely to improve the overall success of therapy for ovarian cancer.
Our team of scientists and doctors has deep expertise in cancer research, drug development, and the immune biology. Together, we are working to turn these early discoveries into real treatments that can be tested in clinical trials and eventually used to help patients.
MIOCA is honored to support this project and other innovative research happening in Michigan through the Geri Fournier Ovarian Cancer Research Grant. These grants are made available each year through generous support from donors like you - thank you for making this vital progress possible. We look forward to following the continued progress of Dr. Matherly and Dr. Hou as they work toward improving treatment options for ovarian cancer.
The Geri Fournier Grant is named in memory of one of MIOCA’s co-founders, and continues her legacy of working toward improved outcomes and quality of life for all who have been impacted by ovarian cancer. The 2025 Grant Application is now open and available for Michigan Researchers.